Play the Fool

Something I wrote decades ago in a far off land and of a place not forgotten in my heart and soul.

Play the Fool

Once a knight now the court jester,

He juggles the pins,

If he loses the rhythm, he will lose his life.

The Queen stares at the fool.

She who knew him as a knight,

Now laughs with the rest.

The fool's face be streaked with tears.

He wishes only to be understood.

To be loved and held.

Many be his friends.

They see only the mask and the juggling act.

What lies beneath the suit they see not.

The clown wonders.

He knows what the people think,

However, not the Queen,

She hides behind her crown.

He knows he is only a fool.

However, wishes he was more.

Conversely, that the Queen would see him as he is.

She cares not to see.

The clown stirs that which she wishes dead.

He cannot  offer that which he does not own.

Frightened by what she thinks to be the act.

The jester looks upon the court.

Many knights strut among the noble sort.

Beneath the armor, the knights be no more than he.

The nobles glimmer weakly from his mirror, without their royal robes.

He is the jester yet he knows.

That which blinds the others makes him see.

Conceived in the sinful lust of man,

Born poor as dirt,

Stripped of all that is high and mighty.

Sadly, he smiles at the pompous throng.

Continue forever his act,

Not for himself but for the others,

He knows the truth.

To tell no one be his bitter reward.

The knowledge gains him nothing.

Often does he cry,

Why me,

Should it not be the king or a knight,

One who can use the knowledge.

Fight the noble fight and win the bloody battle.

I play the fool, yet I understand.

He sees the gold of the court.

Many luxuries could it buy.

Greedy eyes of the noble pursue the riches.

Coins they toss him for the laughs he brings.

The gold which was dug from the earth, he throws back to the eager crowd.

They laugh at him all the more.

Such a fool he knows not the value of gold.

Even so, he knows and sees the truth.

As the world must have the worm to survive.

So must the court have one who plays the fool.

Reviews

[B]

I read this before
Hmmmmm

[H.L. Cerveise]

Well thank you for reading it again. It was written 30 plus years ago.

[B]

I don't think I reviewed it here

[Coyote Poetry]

Always need one fool.
"As the world must have the worm to survive.
So must the court have one who plays the fool."
I liked the ending above and the complete tale in the poetry. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[H.L. Cerveise]

Thank you for reading and reviewing this writing. The last two lines I feel are a fitting end to this tale.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree and you are welcome.

[Farah Husain]

A very powerful piece of writing. I love it.

[H.L. Cerveise]

Thank you for reading and reviewing this writing. I am so glad you loved it.

[Destiny Izaguirre Corte..]

Absolutely Incredible !
This poem is so well written and creative.
Please continue writing because I enjoy every moment of it~

Thank you for sharing !

[H.L. Cerveise]

Thank you for reading and reviewing this writing. I am glad you enjoyed it.

[Emily]

Lovely poem!
Keep up the great work!

[Joshua Marshall]

This is a really nice poem! Thanks for sharing!

[H.L. Cerveise]

Thank you for reading and reviewing this poem. I am glad you liked it.

[Joshua Marshall]

You're welcome! ::))

[Pink Pastel]

Very well described understood every word

[H.L. Cerveise]

Thank you for reading and reviewing this writing. I am glad you liked it.

[Pink Pastel]

Of course your welcome^_^

[Vatsal Rohilla (account..]

You are right. Sometimes one has to resort to this stuff. Lovely story-poem, this is surely your strongest niche. Exquisite imagery- picturesque piece. Keep writing.

[H.L. Cerveise]

Thank you for reading and reviewing this writing. I am glad you liked the imagery.

[Darian B.]

Often those who hold the darkest secrets must hide it deep beneath a veil of lies so as to avoid it being uncovered. We also may play the fool to avoid uncovering the dark pains hidden within ourselves. I've been here many times and I can relate well. Nice work, I thoroughly enjoyed this

[H.L. Cerveise]

Thank you for reading and reviewing this writing. I totally agree with what you are saying, of course it is what my poem story doing. I am glad you enjoyed it.

[Aventicus]

This poem makes me wonder. It is certainly well written, but it seems to lose clarity at the end with what appears to be a change of ideas, but maybe that all coincides with the overall theme. There have been many quotes about fools, some of which I guarantee you already know. Yet, I still wonder if every jester holds knowledge worth that of a king. A foolhardy face may hide the greatest secrets, but maybe the fool is just that which he is. For why would he leave if he has nothing to gain. When I say this, I speak of knowledge wasted on those who do not hear nor desire it and if this is true, then the fool may have played a joke upon himself as he remains amongst those who are actually so. There is a quote I am reminded of by G.K. Chesterton, "It is not the madman who has lost his reason. It is the madman who has lost everything except his reason.

[H.L. Cerveise]

Now you must realize this is all about perception, n just that of the jester but of everyone involved. Now also envision this; In the not too distant future the kingdom falls, the king, the queen and the royals are slain be the victors. Of course, the jester amuses the new victors, so they keep him or her. He has lost nothing because what he or she has cannot be taken.